#automatic tap timer

[healmyhrt]

⌗ a night alone, c. sturniolo

chris x fem!reader

summary: you and chris have the house to yourselves and decide to do something other than… inappropriate things, and fail. (lmao)

disclaimers!: established relationship, oral sex (male receiving), mild smut, kissing, cursing, use of y/n,

a/n: yall. its short. all my shit is short unfortunately, I APOLOGIZE. I WILL MAKE LONGER FICS IN THE FUTURE. until then, HERES A CHRIS FIC FOR MY CHRIS GIRLS 😜 | also didn’t proofread <3

the boys were out for the night, so it was just chris and i. we often have nights to ourselves, but we usually choose to do more… inappropriate things. that’s why i wanted to have a simple date night tonight.

“okay come up!” i yell down toward his bedroom. chris jogs up the steps, and his eyes widen at the kitchen table.

“what’s this?” he smiles.

spread across the wooden table were all the ingredients to bake cookies, and a few candles. he looks over to me, and smirks. “oh, you shouldn’t have.” he says in a dramatic tone, walking toward me.

he puts his arms around my waist, and i place my hands around his neck, slightly looking up at him. “i thought it’d be a nice change for our night alone.” i grin back.

chris glances back over at the table, and then back at me with the sweetest smile ever. “and it is.”

i kiss him, impatiently, and he tilts my jaw upward with his index finger. a repetitive sound interrupts us, and i look over at my phone on the table. “sorry.” i sigh.

“i set a timer for the butter to thaw.” i chuckle, holding up the now soft, stick of butter. chris laughs and then stops abruptly, looking at all the ingredients again.

“wait,” he starts, “does this mean we’re not fucking?”

oh my god.

“chris—” he continues walking around the table until he gets to the assortment of cookies. “wait, babe.”

i scoff. “yeah?” he picks up the cookies, and turns it so i can read the title. “these are bake only, they’re pre-made. we dont need all these ingredients.” he laughs.

i snatch the cookies from his hands, and read the title again. “shut the fuck up.” i mumble. chris takes the cookies from my hands, and places them on the table.

“so, i guess we can fuck.” he smirks.

“chris, noooo. we need to do something different.” i gesture to the cookies he just put down. he places his hands on my waist, lifting me up like it’s nothing.

i automatically wrap my legs around his waist, and he places both hands on my hips, holding me up.

“please, baby.”

i gently bite my bottom lip. that’ll do it for me.

“fine. but only for a little.” chris smiles instantly, and smashes his lips against mine. the kiss is hungry, like he couldn’t get enough of me.

he sits me on the counter, and slowly lifts up my nightgown. i pull it over my head, and do the same to his shirt, then he throws it on the floor.

“pants.” i say through a kiss.

chris’s hands leave my hips, and begin shimmying his pants down. i hop off of the counter, and adjust him so he’s leaning against it. “what’re you—” i interrupt him by putting my hand over his mouth.

he nods, and i move my hand, using it to pull down his boxers. chris’s breathing becomes rapid, and i smile to myself.

i hold his shaft in my hands, and spit over his tip. chris watches while it slowly trickles down from my lips and onto him.

he trembles as it slides down his shaft, and i hold eye contact with him while i move my hand up and down, spreading it.

i had grown bored of touching him with my hands, so i move my mouth to his cock, and wrap my lips around his tip. i look up asking for his consent, and chris gives me a quick nod.

i took more and more of him, stopping halfway because i couldn't swallow any more. i started bobbing my head on his cock, collecting the precum.

“ah, ah…” chris moaned every time i put more of him into my mouth, and felt his tip hit the back of my throat.

“please, ma…” he spoke through whimpers, and grabbed a handful of my hair. chris thrusts into my mouth, bruising my throat.

i tap his thigh, and he comes to an abrupt stop.

i pull myself off of him, and his cock leaves mymouth with a pop sound. “too rough?” i wipe my mouth, and stand up, kissing him.

“it’s okay. i like it when you’re like that.” i smirk.

chris pulls up his boxers and his pajama pants together, and looks around for his shirt. i slide my nightgown back up my legs, and straighten the straps on my shoulders.

“so, we should probably make these cookies now, huh?”

[korpuskat]

Auto-Trigger

[Ao3 Mirror] Pairing: Ramattra/Reader (Gender Neutral) Rating: Explicit WC: 996 Warnings: Prompt is "Stalking", using cameras to spy.

On the screen, you move through your quarters. Gathering your data pad before settling onto your bed, you have no idea you’re being watched.

You should, Ramattra reasons. He did not ask for a Talon liaison to observe his progress, to live in his omnium while production continued. You’re here to observe him, it’s only fair he observes you in turn. He doesn’t trust Talon, no matter how much funding they’re funneling into his cause- your observations are just as useful to your superiors as guarantees of progress as they are intel for how to destroy him.

So, he watches. Usually he’s too busy to have only the feed from your room pulled up on his screens, but as it would happen, for once every production line is running smoothly. So it leaves him in his own quarters- not that he uses them much, so little time for rest- with the feed of you.

He’ll close it soon; whatever report you’re typing will be filtered through his firewalls, he’ll read it later. But then- you sigh and stop typing. A tap and it’s sent, a notification appearing in his own HUD. And on the screen you stretch, arching your back outwards, arms extending above your head, twisting to release the muscles there. One hand comes down to cover a silent yawn.

Out of curiosity Ramattra checks his logs; you’ve appeared in key areas and spoken with him several times in the last twenty hours. Yes, it would make sense you’d be fatigued. Living underground with no source of natural light, your circadian rhythms must be altered.

In truth it wouldn’t be so hard to find a way to adapt that aspect of his omnium for you. A timer on the overhead lights, dimming them every twelve hours or so, would be trivial. He won’t, however. He doesn’t need you here, does not need your reports to be accurate or legible. Even if you have… held his attention.

As much as he dislikes the reasons for your presence… it has been some time since he’s been forced to work so closely with someone else, much less a human. Your conversations, when not Talon-related, have been… almost enjoyable. A pleasant distraction from the all-consuming work before him.

It does not mean he trusts you, however.

Hence, he watches as you shift on the bed, sliding down a little further. He does not pay it too much attention, until you shift the datapad to your other hand- and that is odd, isn’t it? Humans avoid their non-dominant hand- while the other…

Ramattra grabs the screen and pulls it closer, pinging the feed to zoom. Your other hand slides over your chest, pausing here and there to caress yourself over your uniform. Is this…? Ramattra’s circuits race, chase any answer but the obvious. Fortunately you provide an even clearer explanation: the hand that roams your chest slips under the cloth of your pants.

Your mouth drops open, eyes fluttering shut, and very quickly Ramatta has realized he’s made a terrible mistake. His arousal subroutine auto-triggers, and Ramattra curses himself to ever leaving it engaged, curses more that it’s you that’s brought it out of its dormancy. A warmth floods his sensors, makes his out plating feel like they’re itching and Ramattra wrestles with it, even as it supplies fairly sound logic: it’ll feel nice, he was going to rest anyway, you’ll never know.

He’s about to kill switch it- when the mic on the camera automatically toggles on, a volume threshold is exceeded and a soft, airy moan rumbles from his display’s speakers.

Behind the last section of his paneling, his cock throbs. Ramattra’s fingers ache to take it in hand, but he resists. You, he fights the haze that clouds his thinking, you might still receive a call about that report. Yes, he can handle himself later, but now… he should be watching-

Your hand moves beneath the cloth, exact movements obscured. With the other hand, you hold up the data pad for a minute more, then drop it on the bed beside you. What were you looking at? The fact he could find it- you’re connected to his network- does not escape him. But it’ll be disappointing, he’s sure, less entertaining than- than you shimmying out of your clothes and delving between your legs again and-

The mic toggles on again.

”Ramattra,”

He- he misheard you. He must've. But his audials replay your voice for him, begging, pleading for something- something from him. He’s burning up, vents popping in a futile attempt to calm his racing circuits.

He nearly rips one of the joints of his panels off. The antarctic air is freezing on his cock, but his moans just at the feeling of his own palm finally surrounding himself. Now- now that he can see you, he doesn’t bother with shame. Instantly he matches your rhythm, his hand keeping pace with yours. You- this is your fault, you should know better, should know he’d be watching you and, oh, when you twist like that you look so-

“Yes, yes,” You pant, just loud enough for the camera to hear it. What was he doing to you in your mind, what did you want him to do? Don’t you know he could’ve heard you, even if he wasn’t watching?

“Ra- Rama-ah,” You cry out, tensing and twitching and-

A quarter of his systems are offline before he even registers the overload has hit, He shudders, makes some distorted noise and surrenders to the wave of pleasure that follows.

He wakes some ten minutes later, if his chronometer is correct. The camera feed to your quarters is still displayed- and his optics fight to refocus into a viable image. It seems you’ve fared about the same, splayed out on your bed, blanket haphazardly drawn over half your body. And you’re fully asleep, if the soft snores are to be believed. At least he can finally get some rest.

[saber-monet]

Take Cold showers to ignore the 3d

If you're in the loass community and want to practice the concept of

" ignore the 3d and persist" taking cold showers is the way to go!

why?

when you commit to taking cold showers you condition your brain to think wanted thought and abandon the negative one .

You quickly learn thinking negative thoughts like:

" this is hard"

"I cant do this"

"why am i putting myself through this? i could just stop rn" etc

only make the experience worse.

You learn to consciously choose to think wanted thoughts like:

"This will be over soon, this wont last long"

"I feel warm and toasty rn"

"I've already completed this, it's already done " etc.

Basically affirming your desired state and tapping into it and staying there. ( you gain resilience to stay in your preferred state). And you actually feel that way in real time. It feels bearable. It feels fine taking a cold shower.

Because If you start saying the negative thoughts again, the experience becomes miserable and you feel terrible and weak and you will want to quit. You can quite literally feel yourself shifting states based on the words you're saying.

My experience:

I started with 30 second cold shower and the next day 1:00 minute, then 1:30 the next and worked my way up to 3:00 minute cold shower today.

What I do is set the timer and affirm(out loud): " I feel nice and toasty right now", "this 3 minutes went by so quickly", "that was so easy" (affirming as my future self ) and I basically do that till the timer goes off.

This exercise definitely teaches you how to tap into your desired future self, and hold your future self's thoughts.

It's gotten so good that I've started automatically affirming how well my showers are going to go before I even step into the bathroom.

Before I used to think, "oh my gosh this cold shower's gonna be so uncomfortable. I'm gonna hate it", etc.

Now, whenever I think of a cold shower, I automatically think, "oh nice and toasty that's gonna go by so quick". And it feels nice to think about. It doesn't feel forced at all. It's become ingrained as a positive experience on my conscience and it took less than a week to do 🙌🏾

[inkluvs]

・❥・ tea — send me a blurb request / headcannon (inspo here and here)

omg maybe “i made some cookies. would you like some” from the neighbors to lovers prompt list with eddie munson pleeaseee🤞😭

come on in, sweetheart

a/n: wooo i hope u like this i love neighbor eddie <3 <3

ivy's cafe // masterlist // taglist

The longer you stared at the timer the slower time seemed to become, the ticks of the small hand becoming fewer and farther between as you turned on the oven light to check on the state of your cookies. If things continued the way they are now it seemed like they would need an extra ten minutes, just to make sure they were fully baked and you wouldn’t be feeding your new neighbor raw dough. So you sat there, turning the oven lights back on whenever they switched off automatically, your eyelashes fluttering as you stared at the tray inside.

Had you done something wrong? You’d followed the recipe down to the last letter.

The oven alarm went off seconds later, startling you from your thoughts. Opening the oven door, you picked up the tray without a second thought.

shit

The pain shooting through your arm was blinding. You dropped the cookie tray onto the counter just as quickly as you’d picked it up. Running your hand under the tap, you touched the now-tender skin of your palm gingerly, wincing at the slight sting. 

It’s fine, you decided, taking out a bowl from your cabinet. It really wasn’t that serious of a burn. The way your skin prickled when it made contact with the glass directly contradicted that statement, but you chose to ignore it, instead placing the cookies into the bowl one by one. 

The chill of your door knob was a welcome one, soothing the sting for a split second as you stepped outside your house and into the summer heat. Your stomach churned as you started the 15-second journey to your neighbor's house, your shoes slightly dragging on the pavement.

You stopped in front of the door and for a second you hesitated, wondering whether it was really worth it to try and get to know your neighbor. But before you could turn around the door opened, revealing Eddie behind it. His hair was tied up, leaving the stark veins of his neck on display. You didn’t mean to stare, really, but you couldn’t help it, the clear contrast of the green veins against his skin catching your eye.

He interrupted the beginning of your thought process, “D’you want something?”

“I made these,” you breathed, flicking your eyes back to his own.

“Figured,” Your confidence was slowly slipping with each monotone response he offered you.

“And I was wondering if you wanted any?” 

“They chocolate chip?”

You shook your head, “Plain chocolate, that an issue?”

The door swung open and he smiled, “Come on in, sweetheart.”

[waywardxrhea]

Chapter 5 - Black Butterflies and Deja Vu

What happens when you lie to the Devil? How long can one woman keep a lifetime of secrets from the Devil of Hell's Kitchen? The answer may surprise you...

installment list

pairing: Matt Murdock x enhanced!fem!OC

series content: coffee shop AU, fluff, humor, friends to lovers, pining, language, canon typical violence, angst, drinking, implied smut, medical emergencies, mental health disorders (PTSD, panic disorder).

"i lose my voice when i look at you, can't make a noise though i'm trying to tell you all the right words, waiting on the right words. just another lovesick afternoon, black butterflies and deja vu. hoping for the right words, waiting for the right words." - black butterflies and deja vu, the maine

word count: 5.3k

Flirting. That's the chapter. With some angst thrown in but sweet Matty is there for our girl.

a/n: so obviously this story is written third person limited in Crystal's POV most of the time so we don't know what Matt is thinking or sensing, so I try throughout this series to write Matt's reaction to Crystal in a way that isn't almost table topping (for lack of a better word we are using D&D terms now whoops) and having Crystal almost "know" that he can tell more of what's going on. in this chapter we get our first glance of Matt's senses really coming in handy when it comes to being in tune sympathizing with Crystal, I hope y'all enjoy and look forward to the future of Matt's reactions to her because they are so fun to write!

A couple more weeks passed at the shop with business going as usual. One morning Crystal was hanging up the last of the Valentine’s day decorations around the pastry case and singing quietly to the music playing over the speakers. When the bell above the door rang signaling the door opening, she automatically greeted the person with, “Good morning, welcome to Stardust, I’ll be right with you!” As she rounded the counter to get behind the register, she saw Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson and said, “You chaps are earlier than usual, it’s nice to see you two!”

“Well we’ve got an early morning at the courthouse today,” Matt informed her with a shrug. 

“Awe, well, if you have time to wait, there’s about two minutes left on some strawberry mini tarts that are in the oven,” she said. 

“Are they shaped like hearts?” Foggy asked as he looked around at all of the decor hanging in the shop. He laughed as he added, “Just assuming because it is very pink in here.”

“Just comes with the holiday I guess,” she replied with a quiet laugh. “What can I get you two today?”

“Want your usual Fog? I can get it today, go find a table for us, yeah?” Matt asked his friend. 

“You got it, I’ll be at the third table on the right, buddy,” Foggy replied before relieving Matt of his briefcase and heading off to the table. 

Once he left, Matt turned his attention back to Crystal and said with a charming smile, “We’ll have our usuals and two of those tarts you mentioned.”

“Of course,” Crystal replied as she tapped away at the computer to get the order in. 

As she made change for the bill Matt gave her, she could hear the slight smirk in his voice as he told her, “You know, if you’re as beautiful as your singing voice is, that sign out on the sidewalk is wrong.”

Heat instantly ignited in her cheeks at the flirtatious comment and she was so grateful that he wasn’t able to see the flush on her cheeks and the shock on her face. Her hands began to tremble a bit as she handed him back his change, mumbling, “Oh, I, uh, I- You’re too kind, Matt…”

“I’m just telling it how it is,” Matt replied back, his warm touch lingering on hers for a few more seconds than usual before he felt around for the tip jar to place the change in. 

When he walked away, Crystal barely heard the timer for the tarts going off due to the roaring in her ears. She snapped out of her trance though and went to get them out of the oven just as Raeyes turned the corner coming from the office with her clipboard in hand. “You okay…?” she asked in concern, the panic was apparently clearly written all over Crystal’s face. 

“Yeah, just fine,” she replied faintly as she pulled on the oven mitts to get the pastries out. 

Even after Matt and Foggy left for the day, Crystal’s mind kept running through the scene in her head over and over again to the point where when got off she missed having her afternoon tea because of the preoccupation. When Raeyes pointed it out as they got back to the flat for the day was when she finally admitted what happened. 

“He said what?!” she shouted excitedly as they put their purses in their proper places near the door. 

“I guess Foggy read him the sign like he usually does and he told me, and I quote, ‘If you’re as beautiful as your singing voice is, that sign out on the sidewalk is wrong.’” Crystal told her, sitting down on the loveseat and throwing her head backward over the headrest exasperatedly. 

“And what did you say back?!” Raeyes asked as she joined her on the loveseat, practically bouncing with excitement. 

Crystal covered her face with her hands as she groaned in embarrassment, replying, “I said that was kind of him to say…”

“Crystal! The hottest lawyer in New York said one of the smoothest lines of all time and that’s what you said back?!”

“I didn’t know what to say! I haven’t exactly flirted with anyone in nearly four years!” Crystal retaliated, an unexpected laugh escaping her lips. 

Raeyes sat deep in thought for a few moments before saying, “Okay, well, all hope is not lost yet! This is good actually! This shows that he likes you! We can work with that!”

“Rae,” Crystal said wearily, unsure of how she wanted to navigate this developing situation. 

“Crystal! Please! Just give it a chance!” Raeyes pleaded.

“I want to, God I want to. There’s a part of me that is desperate for change but…” she trailed off for a few moments to gather her words. She took a breath before finishing with, “But there’s also a part of me that still loves Kit and it feels… almost wrong to have feelings for someone else…”

“Oh Crys…” Raeyes said quietly before leaning over to give her a brief hug. She sighed before saying, “I know part of you is always going to love him, that’s only natural. This isn’t like normal relationships where he hurt you and therefore you don’t love him anymore. He freakin’ died and that’s the worst way for something like what you had to end. But you can’t let that keep you from living your life. I know I didn’t know him, but from what you tell me about Kit, he would want you to be happy. Why deny yourself that?”

“The change is just scary is all…” Crystal admitted quietly. 

“Adulting is scary, but sometimes we just have to do things that scare us in order to know that we’re still alive. What’s life without a little risk?”

“You and your Potter references,” Crystal said, huffing out a quiet laugh as she wiped away a tear from her eye. 

“I’m full of ‘em!” Raeyes said as she got up and went to the cabinet to grab a couple glasses for water. As she filled them up, she told Crystal, “You don’t have to do it now, but just…think of ways you can do a little more than ‘that was nice’ next time Murdock flirts with you.”

“You got it,” Crystal replied, although she was still doing mental gymnastics to try and navigate the situation... 

The day of February 28th rolled around and Crystal, as she expected, was a mess. She was a mess because today was Kit’s birthday. His first one not here on Earth. She woke up that morning with a pit in her stomach and felt like a dark cloud was constantly hovering over her as she readied herself for work. As she walked through the door of the shop and greeted the other openers for the day though, she forced a smile onto her lips and tried to pretend she wasn’t breaking down inside. 

The cloud stuck around all day and a little voice in the back of her head kept nagging her to use the VPN she installed on her phone to check Kit’s social media page. Against her better judgment, she did when she sat down on one of the couches in the corner of the shop for her break. What she saw when she opened the page shook her to the core. It was a post from his mother that read:

Today we should be celebrating my son’s birthday with him, but instead we grieved at the grave where he shouldn’t be in the first place. As many of you know Kit was killed a few months ago and I will never forgive the person I believe to be responsible. You know who you are. He should be here with me eating his favorite meal but tonight my husband and I sit at the dining table alone while the food grows cold on our plates. Happy heavenly birthday son, until we meet again. 

A numbness filled Crystal’s body as she read the post and almost as if someone else was making her move, she felt herself get up off of the couch and head toward the restroom to be out of the public eye. She barely heard Karen compliment her on the lunch the shop served as she made her way there, offering back an off-handed acceptance of the comment before locking herself in the restroom.

Once she locked the door, Crystal turned her back to it and slid down to the floor, covering her mouth with her hands as a choked sob escaped her mouth. Before she could even try to ground herself, Crystal found herself in the midst of a panic attack, giving the only bit of concentration she had to keeping her sobs quiet as she cried. 

She cried because she knew that she was the reason his mother wasn’t able to celebrate with him today. She cried because of how much she missed him. But she panicked because of the implication of one line of the message: "you know who you are." To her panicking mind, this meant that it wasn’t made public that she had died at the hands of the O’Hares. That to London at large she was still alive and well, stuck at home with her father and brother presumably still grieving over the loss of her mother and boyfriend. That perhaps they knew she wasn’t actually dead. 

After a few minutes of just trying to slow down her breathing and heart rate before she went into a WPW episode, Crystal finally got herself out of the panic attack. She stood up on shaking legs and steadied herself on the sink before washing the tears from her cheeks and redoing the messy bun atop her head. 

She shook her head as she looked in the mirror once more, telling herself that her thoughts had to be wrong. There was no way her father knew she was still alive. If it wasn’t made public it was probably because it would implicate both the O’Hares and Porters in illegal activity which would be bad for both of their operations. Or maybe it was simply a lapse in judgment on Kit’s mother’s part… Whatever the reason for it, there was no way it was because they thought she was still alive… They just couldn’t.

When she finally emerged from the restroom well after her allotted break time, Crystal quickly got to work clearing off tables that needed it. When she neared the table where Karen, Matt, and Foggy sat, she flashed a quick smile before asking, “Anything else I can get you lot today?”

Karen gave her a soft smile before telling her, “We’re just about to head out, thank you though.”

“Everything was perfect today, as usual,” Matt complimented as they all began gathering their belongings. Karen and Foggy began to walk toward the door slightly ahead of Matt while he unfolded his cane at the table that Crystal began to clear off in their departure. As Matt reached for the handle of his briefcase, his fingers brushed across Crystal’s hand and he told her softly, “Take it easy and have a great rest of your shift, Crystal. Thank you again.”

The first genuine smile of the day made its way onto Crystal’s lips at his words and she couldn’t help the butterflies that erupted in her stomach in reaction. Before he could walk away, Crystal told him, “Thank you Matt. You just made my day loads better, you have no idea…”

He gave her a smile and small wave before beginning to navigate toward the door where his friends stood waiting for him. As Crystal finished out her shift, the thoughts of panic associated with Kit’s mother’s post started to fade into the background. Her mind instead flirted with the possibilities of what Matt’s actions could imply, and while guilt occasionally seeped into those thoughts, she kept what Raeyes told her in mind to try and feel better about the situation as a whole. 

One evening a few days later after an extremely long shift at Stardust, Crystal trudged into her flat with one thing on her mind: curling up in her bed and not getting up until mid-morning. She was so determined to get there that she missed the bright pink post-it note stuck to the outside of the door to her flat. She took two steps into the apartment before silently making her way out, cringing at her mistake of not seeing the post-it. 

Wishing to forget what she heard within the walls of her and Raeyes’s shared flat, she wandered into the first bar she came across, one with a sign out front saying, Josie’s. The bar was small and poorly lit with classic rock playing from the speakers and was filled with patrons from all walks of life. 

Sitting down at the far end of the bar, Crystal ordered a double shot of the house special before pulling out her phone to browse social media while she waited out her time away from the flat. She was lost in thought for a little while, sipping on her drink, when she heard a familiar voice asking, “Hey, isn’t that the barista from the coffee shop?” 

“She’s got a name you know,” Crystal heard a female voice reply before calling out for some beers from the bartender. 

Not wanting to intrude, Crystal pretended she didn’t hear the conversation while taking a drag from her glass. As she placed her near empty glass on the bar, she jumped a little when she realized that the ever-handsome Matt Murdock was standing nearby with a charming smile on his face. She couldn’t help the flutter her heart gave upon seeing that smile and his sleeves rolled up, showing off his surprisingly buff forearms. “Fancy seeing you here,” she told him once the shock wore off. 

“You know, I would say the same, but,” he said, his smile growing at the comment. Crystal bit the inside of her cheek, but stopped when Matt added, “You can laugh at that.”

And so she did, asking him with a laugh, “You think you’ve got a wicked sense of humor, don’t you?”

“Yes, yes I do,” he said, a light chuckle rumbling out of his chest. “Judging by the lack of any other comments, I’m assuming you’re here alone?” he asked curiously.

“Oh, uh, yeah, actually. I’m not really needed nor welcome in my flat right now,” she replied. 

“Problems with your roommate?” Matt asked. 

“I mean if you count an active dating life and getting shagged as a problem, then yes.”

A loud laugh escaped Matt’s lips at the statement and Crystal couldn’t help but laugh along. “You Brits and your slang for sex,” he said, this time with a quieter chuckle. There was a moment of silence before Matt offered, “Why don’t you come and hang out with me and the others? Help get your mind off of all…that.”

“Oh I wouldn’t want to intrude,” she said reluctantly. 

“I insist. If it helps I’ll even buy your next drink,” he told her before calling out to the bartender to get her another drink. 

“I appreciate that because I really don’t want to remember tonight,” she said before she drank the rest of her first cocktail down. Her eyes went wide upon realizing what she said and heat crept onto her cheeks as she instantly began stuttering out, “I didn’t mean- I meant- Not wanting to forget hanging out with you lot, I’m sure that part is going to be lovely, it’s just…”

“Walking in on your roommate having sex wasn’t on your agenda tonight?” Matt asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Not exactly,” she replied before taking a sip from the new drink Josie sat in front of her. 

“You guys better watch out for her, those are doubles, Murdock,” the bartender warned. 

“Will do, Josie, thank you,” Matt replied. He turned back to where Crystal sat on the barstool and asked, “Do you mind leading me to where Fog and the others are?”

“I don’t mind at all,” she replied as she gingerly hopped off the chair and held out her arm for Matt to grab. When his large hand grabbed hold of her bicep, Crystal couldn’t help but feel heat rising to her cheeks again, but tried to blame it on the liquor starting to take effect. 

As they walked over, Matt began telling her, “So you know Karen and Foggy, but we’ve also got Marci here with us tonight. She and Foggy are dating.”

“Got it,” she said as they approached the table. 

She placed her drink on the table before helping Matt to his chair as Foggy said cheerfully, “Well if it isn’t our favorite baker and barista! Crystal, this is my girlfriend, Marci! Marci, this is the barista we’ve told you about!” 

“Pleasure to meet you,” Crystal said with a cordial smile. 

“You too! Foggy Bear never shuts up about your scones when you make them at the shop. If you end up being around more often you’ll have to share your recipe,” Marci told her. 

“So what brings you to Josie’s? I don’t think we’ve seen you around here before,” Karen said. 

Matt, seemingly unable to help the teasing tone in his voice, told her, “Her roommate is...how’d you say it? Shagging someone?”

Crystal laughed quietly before saying, “Yep, and I’ve still got about…” she checked the time on her phone before finishing with, “An hour and a half before I can go back to the flat.”

Foggy choked on his beer before asking, “Who has sex for that long?”

“Some people like foreplay, Foggy Bear,” Marci told him with a nudge of her elbow. 

Crystal laughed at the comment before telling them, “It’s just this rule she has in place for us living together. When the other has someone over like that, you put a post-it on the door with the time written on it. The other isn’t allowed back inside for two hours after the designated time. I made the mistake of being too exhausted from my shift at the shop to notice the note…”

“Are you saying you just got off of work?” Matt asked with concern in his voice. “Haven’t you been there since this morning?”

“Oh calm down counselor, I didn’t mind it,” she told him. “We had someone call in and when there’s only a handful of people on staff and no one else can come in, we do what we have to do. As I said, I don’t mind it, it’s not like I have much of a social life anyway. It’s…hard to meet people here if I’m honest,” she told him. 

“You’re telling me,” Karen said, raising her beer bottle to Crystal. “Luckily for me Matt and Foggy came into my life when they did. They ended up taking me under their wing when I was in some trouble.” Upon prompting from Crystal, Karen recounted the story of how the three of them met and how their friendship had flourished since then. She smiled at Crystal before telling her, “So if you’re looking for a group to take you under their wing, I’m sure we can be that for you.”

The sentiment had tears pooling in the backs of her eyes, and Crystal was about to respond when Marci asked, “So what brings you to Hell’s Kitchen anyway? How does one go from London to here of all places?”

“Hey, don’t drag Hell’s Kitchen like that,” Matt defended. “Some people actually like it here.”

“Fine, fine, but even you have to admit, London’s got to be loads better than around here, Matt!” Marci said with a playful roll of her eyes. She rested her chin on her hand as she turned back to Crystal and prompted, “So…?”

“Oh, I, uh�� I just needed a change. Life back home wasn’t always the best for me, so I seized the opportunity to get out of there the first chance I got,” Crystal told her vaguely. 

“Well you know what they say, that America is the land of opportunity!” Foggy told her. 

The group discussed the differences between life in the UK versus the US before Karen slyly asked, “What about the difference between the men here and there?”

Crystal canted her head to the side, furrowing her eyebrows as she said, “I don’t follow.”

“Well you know what they say, English girls like sex,” Marci said with a wiggle of her eyebrows. She smirked before prompting, “So Miss London girl…?”

“I am certainly not drunk enough to be answering those questions right now,” Crystal replied with a laugh. She not so gracefully exited her chair and turned toward the bar, but not before adding, “And by the way I don’t have a comparison.”

Karen’s jaw dropped before she asked, “You’re telling me you’ve been in America for months and you haven’t been laid?”

“I plead the fifth! That’s how that saying goes right?” she asked before laughing as she headed toward the bar for another drink and something to snack on. 

While she waited at the bar with her drink, getting lost in her thoughts, a figure approached her, standing rather close. She looked over and saw a young man standing there with a smile on his face, saying, “I couldn’t help but overhear your beautiful accent earlier, where are you from?” 

“Oh, uh, London,” she replied, subtly stepping away. 

“Sweet, I bet it’s almost as beautiful there as you are,” he said with a wink. 

She cringed at the flirting, wishing it would stop as she replied awkwardly, “Oh...uh...thanks.”

He stepped closer, ignoring the growing space between them and placing his hand over hers on the bar, saying, “Why don’t you and me get out of here and-”

“Is everything all right, sweetheart?” came Matt’s voice from behind her. 

He leaned his cane up against the bar and snaked his hand around Crystal’s waist, running it down her side before resting it on her hip. At the touch, Crystal felt her heart speed up and a jolt of pleasure went south, causing her to shiver slightly under his hold. Matt’s hand subtly squeezed her hip, causing her to come back to the moment, telling him, “Everything’s fine, love, thank you. Just waiting on my order.” She removed her hand from the young man’s and added, “I was just about to tell this gentleman that I was here with someone already.”

The young man’s eyes went wide seeing Matt holding onto Crystal, so he stuttered out, “Sorry man, I didn’t realize, I’ll let her be. Have a good one.”

Once he was out of earshot and back with his friends across the room, Crystal let out a sigh of relief, telling Matt breathlessly, “Thanks for the save.”

“Any time,” he told her before letting his hold on her go seemingly reluctantly. “Foggy said you looked uncomfortable so I decided to step in. Karen and Marci are mad at me about it, but,” he said with a quiet chuckle. 

“They’re never going to let it go, huh?” Crystal asked as she took the basket of cheese sticks from Josie before guiding herself and Matt back to the table. 

“Probably not, they’re persistent,” Matt told her. “Even so, being four shots deep isn’t the best state to be in for your first time here in the states. They should know that.”

By the end of the night she ended up being six shots deep plus a couple beers that Marci pushed her way. While hanging out with the little group, Crystal had found herself babbling on and on about baking, telling them how it’s always been her dream to go to culinary school but hasn’t found the opportunity to do so. She shared a few recipes with Marci before Matt began helping her back to her flat. 

Once they got outside the door to her flat, Matt asked, “Post-it still there? Time hasn’t refreshed or anything has it?” 

Crystal scanned the door and saw that the post-it was no longer there, so she said, “Nope, all clear,” followed by a giggle as she fished around her purse for her keys. 

A smile was evident in Matt’s voice as he told her, “You know, you’re a really giggly drunk. It’s endearing.”

“And you’re extremely charming,” she told him, another giggle slipping out at her boldness. 

Crystal began trying to get the key into the doorknob, but dropped them in the process. She bent down to pick them up, but nearly fell over when she straightened. Almost as if instinctively, Crystal felt Matt reach out to steady her, his hand once again landing on her hip as her body pressed back onto his. “Woah there,” he said, an audible smirk on his lips. 

Matt put his hand over Crystal’s and helped her keep it steady as she slipped the key into the doorknob and turned it. The feeling of his hand over hers and their bodies so close together stirred something inside of Crystal, and images of what those hands were probably capable of began to flood her mind. Her breath hitched in her throat momentarily at the thoughts and she felt her blood begin to run south again. Matt’s grip on her hip once again tightened, but this time he shifted his body away from hers, saying, “I think it’s time for you to get inside. Thanks for letting me get you that drink tonight.”

With the alcohol dulling her brain to mouth filter, she once again giggled before telling him, “If there’s more nights like this in the future I wouldn’t mind. With or without alcohol.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he told her quietly before she opened the door and let herself in, a hand on the wall for support. 

“Goodnight, Matt,” she said with a wave.

“‘Night, Crys,” he told her, that charming smile once again making its appearance, along with the butterflies in Crystal’s stomach at the sight. She closed the door before thinking to herself, This man is going to be the death of me…

A few days passed and Matt couldn’t get the night with Crystal at Josie’s out of his head. One evening after a stressful case, he, Foggy, and Karen decided to go out and Matt offered up Stardust, citing, “We haven’t been there at night and you like wine Karen, why not try something different?” 

“He just wants to see Crystal again,” Foggy said under his breath to Karen.

“Let him be happy,” Karen chastised back with a light punch to his shoulder. 

“You guys know I can hear you, right?” Matt called from his office across the room as he packed away his things into his briefcase for the day. 

“We know!” they called back.

As they all walked out of the office, Foggy clapped Matt on the back and said, “You know, I think this is good for you, Matt. Getting out there again and all! Ever since Josie’s Marci’s been on and on about a double date. It’s actually kinda exhausting.”

“Make it a triple,” Karen said with a smile audible in her voice. “I met someone the other night on the way home from Josie’s. We hailed the same cab and figured out we were going to the same place. Turns out we actually have a lot in common and are planning a date for this weekend…”

“Karen Page, would you look at you!” Foggy said in light of the news.

“Good for you, Karen, I’m happy for you,” Matt told her as the three of them walked down the hallway to the exit of their building. 

“And I’ll be happy for you when you finally man up and ask Crystal on a date,” Karen told him, a fake sternness in her tone. 

“Okay, what’s with you two and the pushing for me and her to date all of a sudden?” Matt asked. 

Foggy scoffed before replying, “Matt, buddy, come on.” 

“What?”

“I guess love really is blind,” he joked before getting a playful punch on the shoulder from Matt in return. 

“You’re ridiculous,” Matt said with a chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. 

While he and his friends ate their respective meals and drinks at Stardust, Matt couldn’t help but listen to Crystal quietly singing to the music playing over the shop’s speakers as she helped Raeyes put up decorations around the shop. She had been off today, but it was by incredible luck that she was there that evening. Foggy swore up and down that Matt had to have known, but he really didn’t. 

Matt was taken out of his slight trance when there were suddenly fingers snapping right beside his ear, startling him back into reality. He shook his head before saying, “Sorry, I got distracted, what were you saying?”

He could hear the disbelief in his voice as Foggy said, “You’ve got it bad man!”

Tilting his head to the side a bit, Matt asked, “What do you mean?”

The sly tone of Karen’s voice came next, saying, “I know what’s got him so distracted.”

“Enlighten me,” Foggy said, a hint of mischief in his voice. 

“He’s always listening to her sing when we’re here, so I assume that’s what he’s doing right now, and the song that’s playing, it’s…let’s say sexually charged.”

“Wait, wait I know this one, it’s Ready For It…? by Taylor Swift, Marci’s always listening to this album!” Foggy’s laugh filled Matt’s ears before he said incredulously, “Don’t tell me you’re picturing sex with the girl you’re too scared to even make a move on, Murdock!”

“He totally is,” Karen’s teasing voice said. 

Foggy nudged Matt in the ribs before asking, “What, are you wishing it was you making her make that noise instead of a song? Can’t get there if you don’t make a move, bud!”

Matt shook his head before asking, “Can we talk about something else? What about what we’re going to do with all the potatoes Mrs. Aledes gave us after we settled her case?”

“No, I think this is something we need to discuss,” Karen said, her tone shifting to something softer now. She laughed lightly before adding, “Not the sex thing, but the subject in general. You’ve clearly had her on your radar for a while, why don’t you make a move?” 

“Yeah, for real, since when has Matthew Murdock not pursued one of the many attractive women he somehow knows how to sniff out?” Foggy asked. “Probably literally.”

“Well I mean besides the obvious…other part of my life historically interfering with the safety of people I care about…” Matt started out with, ignoring the second comment. He sighed before admitting, “I guess I’m still trying to get a read on her. Her body gives me all the signs that she’s attracted to me, but…her heart tends to flutter when she’s talking to other men and women too.”

“People can be bisexual, Matt,” Foggy said matter-of-factly. 

“I know that, you didn’t let me finish, Fog,” Matt said. “I’m not even sure she’s ready for a relationship right now, I’ve heard her turn away other people who have tried to give her their number.”

“Who’s to say she doesn’t want one with you and is just waiting for you to make a move? I’m just saying, this is clearly something you want and sitting here listening to her sing that song isn’t doing anything to help,” Karen said. Laughter burst out of her as she added, “Now think about making a move before I start requesting sex songs every time we come in here!”

Matt chuckled and shook his head as he said, “Please don’t.” What he added in his head after though was, I don’t know if I could hold myself back from her again if you do…

next chapter

[rain-herb]

at second sight

4.7k words, a reikoga / kogarei piece [AO3 link]

“It’s not important,” Koga stresses for clarity, though he doesn’t even seem convincing to himself. “I just thought. Well. Do you think it’s possible to fall in love at first sight?” “I haven't had any experience like that, but it's certainly plausible. Is this about you and Sakuma-senpai?” . UNDEAD works on a new project and Koga mulls over early works, the future, and his relationship with Sakuma Rei.

“Gotta say, doing any form of creating in an environment like this is quite a choice,” notes the high schooler behind the counter after staring in Koga's direction for what feels like the millionth time in thirty minutes. 

He gets that the guy is bored or whatever, but he has no business poking his head into Koga's affairs and even being so judgemental about it. So he is a middle school kid who goes to write lyrics in a live house. But then again, Hakaze Kaoru is a high schooler managing a live house and he doesn't even work here officially or own the place or anything, so who's the weird one here, really?

“It is a good place for me . And you can hardly drive me out for a reason like that,” says Koga, doing his best impression of a problem student who unapologetically does whatever the hell he wants. Being in the live house as he writes is ten times better than just creating while listening to anything with earphones - here he's surrounded by the exact vibe he wants to emulate, the feelings he wants to recreate in his music. Of course, there's also the fact that Sakuma Rei has a performance here this evening.

The room is crowded with the ever-growing Sakuma Rei fanclub even though there's a good two hours before it's time for him to perform onstage, but Koga supposes no one wants to miss out on the chance to get to talk to Rei before that, even if the chances of such a thing happening are low.  His fans almost rival those of that one unit in Yumenosaki that's been popular recently - what was their name again, the one with red and black fancy looking outfits? But the fans of that unit watch their idols like a devotee would watch their god, while Sakuma Rei's fans scream his name like it's all they've ever known.

The fact he is also a Sakuma Rei fan probably wouldn't be surprising to the guy behind the counter who's seen him sneak into the live house enough to remember his face, but he hates the idea of being placed in the same category as certain fans who act crazed over Sakuma Rei and pursue him, but aren't even serious about it like he is. The type who would move on to the next person with a pretty face in time before they even get to understand anything beneath the surface of the superstar image Sakuma Rei created for himself on stage.

“Well, naturally not, if you're a paying customer. Want any refills?”

He huffs, tapping his mechanical pencil against the page filled with scribbles. “No thanks. The tomato juice here is way too sweet for me.”

Then why’d you order that every time you’re here, the not-part-timer doesn’t ask, but his raised eyebrows might as well be doing just that. Instead, he replies automatically in a chipper voice that makes Koga shudder, “In that case, I recommend trying our orange juice—with water mixed in, of course.”

Is this guy even trying to sell him something? Unimpressed, Koga just gives him a flat stare, and then goes back to writing. Distractions, distractions.

His thoughts gravitate to Sakuma Rei and that fated LIVE, as they tend to. Everything could be traced back to that moment, one that he just couldn’t commit to paper. He’s listened to countless other rock songs since then, by both Sakuma Rei and other singers or bands, studied their lyrics, but he still couldn't find the right words for his own song. Now obviously, there’s no formula he could study which would make him magically good at writing lyrics - he wouldn’t even try it out if that kind of thing could be done - but he just knows that something is missing from his work. And it just makes sense, to figure out what it is about Sakuma Rei's lyrics that he likes so much and then head in that same direction. Inspiration and all that. 

Tap, tap, tap goes his pencil against the lined paper, before he forcefully presses it down and scribbles out a few words and phrases and somehow manages to make the worst two lines he’s ever read in his life. The urge to strike the lines out pulls at his hand but he resists, because he's been trying out growing vegetables recently, and it was not going well at all in the beginning because he kept pulling out what he thought were weeds but turned out to be the beginnings of vegetable sprouts. He knows that this works the same way; he’s never going to get an end product without letting things sit and grow. 

Nerd, a stranger’s voice behind him says, and a few others laugh, and his head snaps in their direction. It’s someone in a group of high schoolers in Yumenosaki’s uniform who just came in, approaching the counter to order drinks. Before he could even say anything back, the group had already stopped looking at him, moving on to the other side of the room where people are gathered around tables, talking loudly and cheering and singing badly. So now he’s just more than mildly annoyed, one hand gripping his jiggling leg. It’s times like these that make him wonder why he even bothers aiming to enter a school like that, but there is Sakuma Rei there, which is the only thing that matters. Koga must still go there for the chance of getting close to him, to show that he’s serious about what he says and does. He looks at the unoccupied stage, then at the bored high schooler behind the counter. He’s also wearing the signature blue blazer, the familiar school logo on the breast pocket. Koga snaps his notebook shut and grabs the guitar case that he’s left leaning against the counter this whole time.

“Hey, boss.”

“Not the boss,” corrects Hakaze Kaoru. He doesn’t look his way. “What do you need?”

Koga gestures towards the stage. “Is no one performing right now?”

“I suppose not? We don't really have anything scheduled before Sakuma-san's performance later at eight.” Kaoru pauses. “Actually, we don’t really have much of a schedule here these days. So anyone's free to do whatever they want.”

“So it's fine if I go up there and play, is what you're saying?”

The smile Koga receives is an odd mix between that of a slimy businessman and an amused kid. “The floor is yours. Do as you please.”

..

Some time after UNDEAD makes their official debut, ES announces a new project planned for the coming new year. All units will be required to do introductions of their Yumenosaki era for new fans, so they have to pick out pictures of significant events in their idol activities so far to go in the new albums (not the music kind, unfortunately).

Which brings the four of them back to school, sprawled around the library seats in the most uncool, unidol-like ways, to look through school records for pictures and video footage. A sad result that stemmed from the fact that amongst UNDEAD, only two guys could use smartphones with the proficiency normal people have, and only one of them actually cares about taking nice pictures, and that one person is not Koga - not that nice pictures already posted on Twitter and Instagram could be used though, much to Kaoru’s dismay. Just having pictures isn't enough either - all of them are supposed to write their thoughts on the pictures too, for that special, personal touch.

Koga groans about why they couldn’t have just gone with the behind-the-scenes footage (he receives the unsatisfying answer of those are for the concert DVDs, this is different! ), though the workload isn’t actually that bad so he doesn’t actually mind that much. Writing comes easier to him nowadays, especially when it doesn’t concern schoolwork. Sakuma-senpai had mentioned before that things might be slightly different now, with their new and growing audiences after they’ve outgrown the inexperience of their academy days and stepped foot into the industry for real.

“The staff also asked us to try our best to match our pictures with the theme of ‘returning to the beginning point’,” Rei announces after they manage to locate the specific albums for their unit, reading the last part from an email which Koga helped him to pull up on his phone.

“Beginning point?” Adonis echoes, the saying unfamiliar on his tongue.

Koga turns back from the shelves, placing down another album on the table and leaning his arms against the back of Rei's chair as he tries to explain, “It’s like remembering your feelings when you first started out and not losing sight of your aspirations, something along those lines.” 

Both Rei and Adonis nod at his answer, the former in agreement, the latter in gratitude and understanding.

“They sure love those kinds of themes, huh?” Kaoru sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“They did say ‘try’ so it’s likely fine even if our choices don't really match.”

“Well, it’s probably not hard to come up with something, at least.” Kaoru flips a huge amount of pages of the album at once, skipping back to the first few pages. 

Rei sinks down in his chair, turning his head upwards, and Koga is suddenly met with a gaze from under long eyelashes. “What do you think we should include, Koga?” 

A few strands of hair fall to the side of his face and Koga has to force himself to tear his gaze away from those dark red eyes. He quickly pulls out the chair next to Rei and sits down in a motion that is not unnatural at all, excuse you, ignoring the three pointed stares his unitmates surely have pointed at him and clears his throat.

“The formation of UNDEAD and the repayment festival have to be in there,” he says after a brief moment of consideration. All of UNDEAD's projects and performances are important and meaningful to him (barring the dumb variety shows they've been made to participate in by their new agency, but he keeps his mouth shut because he loves UNDEAD and trusts Rei's judgement enough to tolerate such things for now), so picking out a few specific ones is no easy feat. 

Kaoru exclaims, “The beginning and the end!”

“Not the end. More like a new beginning. For both you guys,” he gestures to Rei and Kaoru, “and us,” he gestures to himself and Adonis, who straightens up a little in his seat. 

“And we will be welcoming a new beginning soon again, with the publication of this new project.”

“That’s true.”

“Should we include commentary on Koga-kun's confession during the repayfes too?” Kaoru adds with a barely concealed giggle.

“ Hakaze-senpai …” he warns in a low voice, receiving a frantic wave of hands and a haha, just joking in response. Adonis also chuckles along, amused. Koga sneaks a look at Rei, only to find him staring right back, an unreadable look on his face. His throat goes a little dry.

The repayment festival. He thinks back to the things he said that fateful day - he hadn't meant it that time, but those things he said did kind of qualify as a confession, didn't they? Sakuma-senpai had accepted his challenge, listened to what Koga had said, but hadn't exactly responded specifically to that , although they both left those distant names behind and returned to calling each other what they did since the beginning.

(They were both incredibly embarrassed about it for a period of time that should not have lasted as long as it did—what were they, a couple who just got together?)

But then again, he supposes his feelings for Sakuma Rei have never been a secret since the beginning.

Back in the present though, the group stops with the jokes and messing around and goes back to picking out pictures from various events. In his head, Koga drafts out his comments for the repayfes picture, which ended up being the one where the four of them are lined before the stage decorated in pastel colours and heart-shaped white day decorations, shoulder to shoulder. Of course, there’s no mention of that event. After that, they go to the café they used to frequent in the area, and he sits next to Rei as usual and does not think about maybe-love confessions, or odd comments made by the twins onstage, or promises and hopes for the future.

..

Under a picture of Koga and his classmates in their classroom that somehow managed to sneak its way into the final album, there’s a series of comments written using a marker pen with differing handwriting:

Koga studies with Youtube videos like ‘intense and a little sad guitar’ playing in the background.

You saw me listen to that ONCE. And that's got nothing to do with the picture!

Of course it has, I'm sure our fans will be delighted to learn cute trivia like this about Koga ^^

^ These guys are just like that all the time.

..

A month from graduation, Koga sits on one of the benches outside the classrooms and near the field, letting it all—the fact that he’ll soon leave this place, that he’ll be an adult and seen as a professional, maybe, and that he’ll be very busy but in a way he could only welcome with wide arms—sink in. Adonis jogs over to him, in sportswear and with a towel around his neck, having just finished with his club activities. He hands Adonis a water bottle and some sweets he received earlier from his kouhai in the light music club, to which Adonis receives with a grateful nod and smile.

The club members had organised something like a farewell party for him, and the twins even got Sakuma-senpai on the phone for him, stressing how they specially went out of their way to contact their previous club president to give him a few words. He hadn’t expected Rei to actually be on the phone, fully expecting it to be a prank that Rei was in on, maybe a recording prepared by the twins, because that was the exact kind of thing they’d do. But it was indeed Rei's voice, the real person in real time, calling him during the ten minute break between photoshoot sessions. Rei had then proceeded to speak like they had not seen each other for a year (they just had dinner together yesterday) and, after Koga switched to speaker mode as per his request, gave a short speech that made him seem surprisingly becoming of a (former) club president. Everyone else gave an applause at that and laughed, and so did he.

The whole thing was incredibly dumb, and he couldn’t help but think about how much he’d like to see Rei again.

Today’s one of the days where he and Adonis don’t have any meetings or photoshoots or idol work, which means he won’t be seeing Sakuma-senpai until—Friday? Or maybe the weekends. He glares at the setting sun like it’s offended him somehow, unsure of whether he wants to go back to school days with Sakuma-senpai or skip forward to when they start working as a full unit at long last, which is a dumb thought because of course there’s only one answer. So he interrupts that train of thought and occupies his mind with something else instead, opening his mouth without really thinking about what he’s about to say next.

“Adonis, do you believe—nevermind, forget it, it's dumb.”

Adonis perks up from behind his red bean manju. “What is it, Oogami?”

“It's not anything important.”

“Okay,” Adonis says, which leaves the choice of whether or not to continue with Koga instead, but with that straightened posture and that look , the one that says he’s always willing to listen, should Oogami be willing to speak. Koga internally curses his friend’s patience and sincere eyes, and allows words to fall from his mouth.

“It’s not important,” Koga stresses for clarity, though he doesn’t even seem convincing to himself. “I just thought. Well. Do you think it’s possible to fall in love at first sight?”

“I haven't had any experience like that, but it's certainly plausible. Is this about you and Sakuma-senpai?”

The sudden leap to conclusion is so jarring that he has to process it for a few seconds before he could respond. “No! What makes you think of that?”

“Hakaze-senpai mentioned something like that.” 

Of course. He rolls his eyes and sighs.

“Besides that,” Adonis adds, “Sakuma-senpai also seems like the only possible choice when it comes to you, Oogami.” 

“Well, I guess it's not completely nothing to do with Sakuma-senpai. I told you before, right? That time after I first saw him, I admired him a great deal and got into guitar and lyric writing because of that. And then my parents were convinced that I'd fallen for him at first sight or whatever.

He twists a leaf between his fingers.

“I don't think I would call it that though, even if that encounter was a big thing for me. I just knew that my life would be thoroughly changed because of it. Because of him.”

..

A meeting with Anzu at RhyLin brings to them both good and bad news: the good news being that the people in charge were really happy with their choice of pictures and comments, and the bad being that now they want more. 

It doesn't have to be pictures, according to her. Just something that could showcase their growth. Thus, Rei suggests including handwritten drafts of their early music, which is as personal as it gets. 

“To me, creating has always been about making yourself known to your audience,” says Rei, tapping his fingers against the meeting table as he ponders his next words. “The songs we write could be stories too, even if it's not as direct as the kind of performances that Itsuki-kun designs for his unit, or Hibiki-kun’s stage plays. Or they could be feelings that we want to tell people about. We put parts of ourselves into our songs and hope the audience receives them kindly.”

The rest of them agree, of course, which means that all of the work goes to Rei and Koga as the composer and lyricist of the unit. They receive words of encouragement and pats on the back from the remaining two, who set off on their merry way, and Koga couldn't even be mad because he doesn't want more people than necessary to read his old lyrics, so.

And here’s the thing: it’s not even that he thinks his old work is terrible, even if some of it makes him want to hurl something into the wall when he reads through it sometimes. He’s grown a great deal since the time when he first started, but reading those words by his fourteen-year-old self sends him right back to a time where he knew nothing but boredom eating away at a bleak world that he couldn’t seem to escape no matter what he did. It’s almost like a part of him from that time had been buried into these lyrics and travelled across time just to clock him in the face as he opened up the notebook. Which is to say, too personal for others to read, even by his standards.

It is late in the afternoon when Rei arrives at the doorstep of Koga's newly rented apartment on his own, carrying a change of clothes and other necessities in a paper bag. The two of them spend the day mostly getting distracted, reading through old notebooks and papers, and Koga almost forgets about dinner until Rei's stomach rumbles. Then he rummages through his refrigerator and ends up cooking pork and cabbage in chicken broth, served together with rice. When he returns to the living room with the food, Rei is busy cuddling and petting Leon, a sight common enough whenever those two were in the same room. Rei comments that his cooking is homey and wonderful, and a proud grin tugs at his lips. I’ll prepare you something special when our new song makes the charts, he says, and Rei says it’s a promise and that he’ll look forward to it. Then Koga goes to shower first, letting Rei work on the beginnings of that new song in his living room.

..

“You can use the bathroom now if you want,” Koga calls out when he's done, drying his hair as he steps out of the bathroom, expecting to receive a lazy hum of affirmation, but none comes. The living room is quiet and somewhat dim at the current hour; there is no slender, dark-clothed figure to be found lying on the couch. He turns the other way and sure enough, faint, yellowish table lamp light can be seen pouring out from his bedroom. 

“Sakuma-senpai?” he calls out again, poking a head into the room. His first course of action is to switch on the ceiling lights, which gets the attention of the figure seated before his desk, his head bobbing upwards for a bit before returning to its original position. There's a little hum of acknowledgement at last, accompanied with the sound of a page flipping. Whatever Rei is looking at has him absorbed in it.

“I’m looking at your early works,” Rei says, seeming to sense his unspoken question. Koga couldn't see his face from where he's standing, but he could hear a smile somehow, the type that usually signifies the incoming of an embarrassing and/or teasing statement.

He eyes the notebook from behind Rei, and yeah, the scrawl of random phrases to be used and wonky handwriting, those are some of his oldest work alright–

Wait.

He reaches out his hand to snatch the book over, but Rei is faster, swiping up the thing in one swift motion and standing up. 

“Where on Earth did you find that!” Koga yells, because that notebook is a middle school exercise book, and he has stopped doing any composing in school exercise books since forever.

“I just picked a random notebook off your shelf,” Rei laughs, holding it far away out of his reach. “And there's no need to be embarrassed, Koga, I've read your works back then too, right?”

Like hell it's the same. His lyrics in his first year weren't great, but definitely much better than the stuff he wrote as a middle schooler. Shit. 

Koga shoots back, “Yeah, like you weren’t super embarrassed yourself when they showed your old stage recordings as a prank on those reality shows!”

That gets Rei to pause, which gives Koga enough time to snatch the book back. Thankfully, Rei doesn't seem to make any movement to take it back, moving a hand to his face to conceal an awkward cough. 

“That’s different.”

Quality-wise, probably, yeah. Koga shoves the notebook into his desk drawer and sits on the desk, blocking access. A crestfallen look comes across Rei’s face that Koga is almost certain is feigned, but he gives in and decides to say something comfortingly honest anyway.

“Those performances were good though. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know shit.”

Rei doesn’t seem comforted by that though, throwing him an exaggerated scandalised look. “Even me? That's a little harsh, don't you think, Koga?”

“That's not what I meant and you know it,” Koga says flatly, remembering the moment he first discovered that the guitarist he had liked from before turned out to be Rei too, Rei from before he had known him. Maybe it really is fate, at this rate.

“I know,” Rei says, smiling faintly. “Though I must say, the person I was then feels decades away from who I am now.”

He narrows his eyes. “Sakuma-senpai, you are literally the only person I know who speaks like they’re capable of discarding their whole identity and personality and turning into an entirely different person in a day.”

“That’s impossible though,” Rei says, eyes closed and head tilted to the side.

“My point.”

“But who knows,” Rei murmurs, voice low suddenly, “maybe I am capable of doing that? Maybe now, I have already changed into someone else entirely.”

He knocks a knuckle on Rei’s forehead lightly. “You’re Sakuma-senpai. And now, you’re going to take a shower before it gets too late.”

“Okay,�� Rei sings, dragging out the word in his usual tone. He seems pleased, Koga notes, as he goes to get his clothes and towel. 

..

Sleep feels impossible with Sakuma Rei on his bedroom floor. 

Koga’s bed is not big enough to fit two guys, thus the futon for Rei that he made sure to prepare before his visit. Sharing a room with Sakuma Rei is not new to him, at this point. They usually share hotel rooms when there are performances in other cities, and even before that, there were a few times where Rei pulled Koga into his coffin in the light music club to nap, though the more often occurrence was Rei napping in the coffin while Koga did his own thing next to him, usually playing the guitar or doing homework, if there’s no one else around or if he didn’t have anything better to do. Does that even count? 

He turns around again, now facing the general direction of Rei’s back instead of the wall. There should be no reason for him to be feeling like this, like some embarrassing eleven year old with an embarrassing crush. But he guesses that it’s one thing to share a hotel room with your unit leader that you’re in love with for job-related reasons, and another thing entirely to have that person in the comfort of your own home.

All of a sudden, Rei turns over to face him too. “Having trouble sleeping?”

“What the h—I thought you were asleep already!” Koga blurts, pushing himself to sit up. 

“Nope. And maybe you should try closing your eyes, if you’re trying to get some sleep.”

He rolls his eyes. “I don’t need you to tell me that .”

“Too excited?”

“For what, exactly?”

“I don’t know. Our new album? Tomorrow’s meals?”

That gets a laugh out of Koga. “Do you want to go somewhere tomorrow? Since our schedules are clear.”

“We can go wherever you want to go, Koga.”

“I’m asking you here, Mr. Superstar who never gets time off.”

“And you’re as wonderfully considerate as ever.” If it were anyone else saying that, he would think they were being sarcastic. But this is Sakuma-senpai, whose smile could be heard in the tone he speaks in. “You’ll have to let me think about it.”

The room falls silent once again, but this time he feels more at ease than moments before. And a thought pops into his head. If grand confessions aren’t going to get him a proper response, he supposes a casual one might do the trick. Away from the eyes of their friends, of a crowd, a quiet place with just the two of them. A moment just like this, even.

“Hey, Sakuma-senpai.”

“What is it?”

“I love you,” he says easily, like it’s a habit of his to just say that casually to Sakuma Rei before they part ways every day. Even in the dark, he manages to catch the way Rei's eyes widen at his unexpected words. There’s a sound of blankets shifting. A smile tugs at Koga's lips as he lies back down. “Just so you know. Good night.”

His reply comes after a moment of shocked silence.

“Wait, wait.” Rei’s voice wavers uncharacteristically as he gets up, draws closer.

Koga does not wait. Instead, he closes his eyes and snores comically loudly. Sweet revenge, he thinks with a childish sense of satisfaction. Fingers wrap around his shoulder.

“Don’t sleep yet. Koga. Ko—ga,” Rei calls out lightly by his ear, almost like a pout. “You can’t just leave that out there like this. Don’t you want to hear my answer?” 

He cracks open an eye. “You have an answer for me?”

“This time,” Rei assures him. His face is pressed against the side of Koga’s single-sized bed, his hair messy and sticking in all sorts of directions, and it’s unfair how he still manages to look good like that. “I’ll say it properly, promise.”

“Okay,” Koga says at last. As he rises back up, a cool hand brushes against his cheek.

Sakuma Rei leans over, pressing a soft kiss to Koga’s lips.

“I love you too.”

[retouchingshop]

What does Reserved mean on Poshmark?

What does Reserved mean on Poshmark? Are they put up by the buyers or something automatic?

 It has some keyword meanings.

On Poshmark, the term “Reserved” indicates that an item listed for sale has been set aside or held for a specific customer.

 Sellers on Poshmark can reserve an item for a potential buyer who has expressed interest in purchasing Poshmark.

You could wait because the yellow mark only lasts a few minutes. 

Once the timer is up, check and recheck whether the product is sold.

What does Reserved mean on Poshmark?

Reserved AKA yellow mark on the product listing appears when a buyer clicks on the button for buy. The reserved mark stays in place for ten minutes while the specific buyer fills out information. It allows the buyers to keep in the buying process while giving signals to buyers.

As a buyer, when you see a glowing yellow saying “Reserved”, it indicates that a buyer is in the process of buying it. More in the after section.

Steps on Manually Reserve on Poshmark

Well, Poshmark doesn’t offer you the manual option to reserve any item. But you have an alternative way that would help you prevent your listed product from getting sold.

Hence, you could apply the “Note For Sell’ label to your listing. To do so, you only have to click on the edit option from the listing detail page. Afterward, you only have to tap on the option “Mark as not for Sale”. In the same way, when you want to make it available, go into Edit> Mak as Available” in the Poshmark app

Beneficial of Reserving Feature on Poshmark

The reserved am Poshmark helps users, commonly referred to as “Poshers” avoid misunderstanding in their transactions by allowing them to sortly hold an item for a potential buyer without immediately committing to buying.

Here’s how the reserve feature helps with misunderstandings.

Temporary Hold: When a potential buyer expresses interest in an item listed on Poshmark, the seller can use the Reserve feature to temporarily “hold” the item.

Communication: By initiating a reserve, the seller and potential buyer can communicate more and more about the transaction.

Commitment: If the buyer decides not to proceed with the purchase, the seller can remove the reserve, and the item becomes available for others to buy.

How can I Reserve an Item on Poshmark?

Poshmark doesn’t have a feature to reserve items. However, you can prevent your listed product from being sold by marking it as “Not for Sale”. When you want to mark it available again, just go to edit and choose “Mark as Available” in the app.

How Long Is An Item Reserved On Poshmark?

An item can only be reserved on Poshmark for up to ten minutes. During this time, the label remains in place while someone completes the purchase. After ten minutes, the label disappears from the list automatically. This system ensures fairness and allows buyers to check the current status of the product within the given time

Conclusion

When you know what is reserved on Poshmark, working will become easier it lets discover one of the helpful features of a sell-buy platform.

Perhaps, don’t worry about anything next time you see a yellow reversed label on your listing. It’s fine and among the normal mechanisms of the platform.

Click Here>>>

Photo Retouching Services

[ben10-daily]

Day 71

If you haven't read my did this probably makes no sense. I warn that there is some Bakugo bashing, I am working to remedy this.

Omnitrix notes for my fanfic, My hero academia: the hero of heroes.

This final model of the Omnitrix was primarily built by Azmuth with help from his assistants Albedo and Myaxx.

Since this model was built with hero work in mind the timer function was scrapped all together.

The ultimatrix function is already built into this omnitrix however it is locked beneath several failsafes, although a glitch in the system or if the Omnitrix AI recognises a big enough threat to it's user it will unlock the function.

There are many code combinations that will unlock varying aliens. For example NRG was unlocked by tapping the faceplate twice. Other forms may have more complex sequences, Alien X is an example of this has his unlock code has 10 sequences that must be keyed in within 30 seconds. (This may change)

The Omnitrix AI has the combined intellect of Azmuth, Albedo, Myaxx, Tetrax and many other beings, one of these is suspected to be the recently missing Lord Zs'skayr.

The Omnitrix has the ability to scan quirks and does so automatically, however the usage of this function is under 27 digital locks and can only be activated by the creator. Up to 5 quirks can be used at one time before the wielder is at risk of their mental state declining.

[higumei-guidebook]

Higurashi Mei: Gameplay Basics

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Mei is an auto-battler mobile game based around collecting and training up "Cards", which each represent a character you can add to your party to participate in quests.

As it is the primary gameplay feature of Mei, here is an overview of the basics of most quests you can send your Cards on.

Quest Menu

On the Home Screen, tap the little scroll icon. This will take you to the quest menu, featured above. We'll cover each of the different options in more in depth posts, but for now let's go over the basics.

In order to run MOST quest types, you need to consume Stamina. You will find your current amount of stamina at the top of most screens-- It's the little counter with the big red Heart by it.

Quest Prep Screen

You will also see it once you select a quest to run, toward the bottom right. The middle line shows you how much stamina the quest will consume: In the example above, it will consume 8 out of my 18 remaining stamina points. A note: If you fail the quest, the stamina will not be consumed, aside from some exceptions.

I'll cover how to earn stamina in it's own section. As a beginner, you should have enough to play quite a bit for now!

Battle Screen

Quests come in many different forms, but all involve your party battling monsters and/or other Cards. Your Cards will battle on their own-- All you have to do is organize a strong enough Party to complete the quest.

Quests are completed by defeating all the enemies on screen. If all your party members are knocked out OR if the timer in the top right runs out before they can do this, you fail the quest.

💮Wave Counter: Firstly, in the top left, we have a "Wave" counter. This is to tell you what "Stage" or "Wave" of enemies you are currently fighting. Most quests have 2 to 3 Waves.

💮Item Boxes: Next to the wave counter is a little box icon with gold detailing. These are Item Boxes. Enemies drop them, and each contains a reward you will receive for completing the Quest. If your party loses, you will not get the boxes you've gathered.

💮Timer: In the top right, you have your time limit. It resets with each wave. As mentioned above, if the clock runs out and enemies are still standing, you lose.

💮Menu: The top rightmost button is your menu. The middlemost button will allow you to mess with volume mixing, as well as toggle whether or not to skip Limit Skill animations. The rightmost button allows you to quit the quest-- Select the red button on the screen it leads to to confirm, and the other to cancel. The leftmost button will resume the quest.

💮Party Members: On the bottom you will see your party members. They have a health bar, and, if they are an SR or SSR rank card, they will have a blue bar below it. When this bar fills up they can perform their special Limit Attack. They'll have a little "GO!" Next to their name when this is availible. Tap them to activate it. ‼️Note: If you see little flashing white segments on a health bar, that means the character is healing that amount due to a party member's healing skill.

💮Auto Limit Skill Toggle: The top button in the bottom right is a toggle to automatically activate a character's Limit Skill when ready. It's on when it's highlighted blue like above.

💮Speed Up: You can speed up battles up to 4x speed. Big recommend.

And Lastly for our basics guide:

When you clear a stage, you'll get a star ranking from 1 to 3 (in the bottom left, there.) 3 stars are obtained when you complete a quest with all party members still standing. I recommend doing this, as you get 10 Oni Stones, the primary gacha currency, per star earned, as well as various bonuses for collecting as many as you can!

[thehuggamugcafe]

Dead By Daylight Perks (II)

I was bored earlier, so I decided to come up with 3 Survivor Perks for myself. I looked through the Survivors’ Perks with a mental fine-toothed comb, so I hope I stuck to the mechanics well enough. Lemme know what y’all think of these, please.

Telekinesis

Nothing will get in your way.

Your psychic energies lash out at anyone who dares to bar your path between you and freedom.

After successfully escaping the Killer while being chased or healing another Survivor a full state, Telekinesis is activated for the next 20/40/60 seconds:

When being grabbed or picked up by the Killer, succeed a Skill Check to automatically escape their grasp, stunning them for 3/5/7 seconds.

Successfully stunning the Killer will cause Telekinesis to be unable to be activated until your next successful escape from the Killer or healing another Survivor.

Telekinesis is disabled once the Exit Gates are powered.

Increases the odds of becoming the Obsession by 100%.

The Killer can only be obsessed with one Survivor at a time.

“How’s a lady supposed to get anywhere? Dammit, get outta my way!”

Boon: Prognosis

Your mind psychically projects itself to imprint upon various key points to warn others of threats, both near and distant, and the means to help themselves to steer clear of them. Press and hold the Active Ability button on a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem. Soft chimes ring out in a radius of 24 metres. All Survivors benefit from the following effects when inside the Boon Totem’s radius:

The Killer’s Aura is revealed to all Survivors in red if within 10/20/30 metres of their current location.

5% Haste Status Effect. This effect is stackable when coupled with other abilities that boost your movement speed, as long as they are currently in effect while inside the Boon Totem’s range.

The above effects linger for 3/6/9 seconds after leaving the Boon Totem’s range.

Only one Boon Totem can be blessed by your Boon Perks at a time and all of their effects are active on the same Boon Totem. “A step closer and you’d have been royally fucked, my friend. You want to avoid danger? Pro tip: look before you leap.”

Equivalent Exchange

You know that nothing is gained without first sacrificing something for it.

Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability.

Equivalent Exchange activates after another Survivor takes a protection hit for you, staying active for 10/20/30 seconds. Should you take a hit for a Survivor within the time Equivalent Exchange remains active, you can tap into your mental energies to avoid damage until Equivalent Exchange suffers from a cooldown period.

While Equivalent Exchange is active, you benefit from the following effects:

You gain a 3/5/7% Haste Status Effect for 3/6/9 seconds once you are no longer being chased by the Killer.

You gain a 10% boost in healing and cleansing actions.

The Survivor who you took a protection hit for has their Aura revealed to you in green for 10/20/30 seconds.

You become the Killer’s Obsession, if not already.

If playing against The Trapper, you can leave a psychic imprint on his Bear Traps, 1 for each prestige level, for a total of 3. All marked Bear Traps are revealed to all Survivors in yellow.

Equivalent Exchange ignores an existing Exhaustion timer, but causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/40/20 seconds.

Reduces the odds of becoming the Killer’s initial Obsession by -100%.

The Killer can only be obsessed with one Survivor at a time.

Equivalent Exchange has a cooldown period of 30 seconds upon activation.

You cannot use Equivalent Exchange if you are in the Deep Wound state or suffer from the Broken Status Effect.

“I’m not someone who lets a debt go unpaid. Now make yourself scarce and for the love of Christ, be quiet while you do it.”    

[jogos-maneros]

Kamera GCam

GCam is a camera app that has gained popularity among Android users for its impressive features and capabilities. It was developed by Google, but is not a default app on all Android phones. This means that you'll have to manually install it if you want to give it a try. However, the extra effort is well worth it, as GCam offers a host of benefits for photographers of all skill levels.

GCam's features and capabilities

One of the standout features of GCam is its Night Sight mode. This allows you to take stunning low light photos without a flash, using advanced algorithms to improve the overall quality and clarity of the image. GCam's HDR+ feature also helps to enhance dynamic range and detail in your photos, making them look more vibrant and lifelike.

In addition to these impressive features, GCam also offers a Portrait mode that allows you to take beautiful bokeh shots with a blurry, soft background. Astrophotography mode is another unique feature that allows you to capture stunning photos of the night sky, including the stars and galaxies. Finally, GCam supports raw image capture, giving you the ability to edit your photos with professional-level control.

How to install and use GCam

To install GCam on your Android device, you'll need to search for it on the Google Play Store or a third-party app store. Once you've found the app, simply follow the installation instructions to get it set up on your phone. Once you have GCam installed, using it is easy. Just open the app and select the mode you want to use (Night Sight, Portrait, etc.) and start taking photos.

In detail, you can follow these steps:

Open the Google Play Store or a third-party app store on your phone.

Search for "GCam" or "Google Camera."

Locate the app and click on it to open the details page.

Click the "Install" button to begin the installation process.

Wait for the app to download and install onto your device.

Once the installation is complete, click the "Open" button to launch the app.

Using GCam is easy once it's installed on your device. Simply open the app and choose the mode you want to use. The app offers several different modes, including Night Sight, Portrait, Astrophotography, and more. To switch between modes, just tap the icon at the bottom of the screen. You can also adjust various settings, such as exposure and white balance, by tapping the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen.

To take a photo with GCam, simply point your phone at the subject you want to capture, tap the shutter button, and the app will automatically take the photo for you. You can also use the timer feature by tapping the timer icon in the top left corner of the screen. This will allow you to set a countdown before the photo is taken, giving you time to get into position or set up your shot.

Comparison to other camera apps

GCam is a great option for those looking to improve their photography skills, but it's not the only camera app out there. Many Android phones come with their own default camera app that may offer some similar features. However, GCam is generally considered to be more advanced and offer better overall results. When compared to other popular camera apps such as Lightroom and ProCamera, GCam also holds its own and is often preferred by photographers for its ease of use and impressive features.

Conclusion

In conclusion, GCam is a camera app that is well worth checking out for any Android user looking to up their photography game. Its Night Sight, HDR+, and Portrait modes, as well as its Astrophotography and raw image support, make it a powerful tool for capturing stunning photos. While there are other camera apps out there, GCam is definitely worth a try for its impressive capabilities and ease of use.

[chemical-killjoy]

bathrooms that DON'T close between 5pm and 8am, and DON'T have an automatic ten-minute timer.

it also means free bubblers and taps to refill water bottles while walking (and not having to buy more water at Maccas and waste plastic and money)

walkable cities also means sittable cities send tweet

[willpaul229]

The Role of Online Auctions in Charity Fundraising

Minnesota online auctions have emerged as a powerful tool for charity fundraising, offering nonprofits and charitable organizations innovative ways to engage supporters and raise significant funds. In recent years, the shift to digital platforms has broadened the scope of traditional charity events, providing greater accessibility, engagement, and efficiency. Online auctions enable charities to reach a global audience, increase participation, and maximize their fundraising potential.

Accessibility and Global Reach

One of the most significant advantages of online auctions is their accessibility. Traditional in-person charity events often limit participation to those within a specific geographic area, but online auctions eliminate these boundaries. Donors worldwide can participate, regardless of their location, significantly broadening the charity's potential audience. This global reach allows charities to tap into previously unreachable demographics, increasing the chances of higher bids and larger donations. Moreover, supporters can participate at any time, making it easier for them to engage without the need to attend a specific event.

Enhanced Engagement and Participation

Online auctions encourage greater participation through the convenience of mobile and web-based platforms. Many online auction platforms are designed with user-friendly interfaces that make bidding easy. Features like automatic bidding, notifications when outbid, and countdown timers keep participants actively engaged throughout the auction period. The ability to share auction links on social media also amplifies the campaign, encouraging participants to invite friends, family, and networks, further boosting visibility and engagement.

Additionally, online auctions allow charities to create a more personalized and interactive experience. Virtual events can include live streaming, where organizers can present items, share stories about the charity’s mission, or host celebrity appearances to encourage bidding. Some platforms offer real-time updates and leaderboards, creating a competitive atmosphere that can motivate participants to bid more.

Cost-Effective and Efficient Fundraising

Hosting a traditional in-person auction often involves significant costs, including venue rentals, catering, and event staff. Online auctions, however, eliminate many of these expenses, making them a more cost-effective option for charities. With lower overhead costs, a larger portion of the funds raised can go directly to the cause.

Moreover, online auctions are easier to organize and manage. Many platforms provide built-in tools for cataloging items, processing payments, and managing bidder data. This streamlines the administrative process, allowing charities to focus more on promoting the auction and engaging with donors.

Attracting a Diverse Range of Donors

Online auctions provide an opportunity to appeal to a broader and more diverse audience of donors. Traditional charity events often attract a limited group of high-net-worth individuals or established supporters. In contrast, online auctions can engage younger, tech-savvy donors who may not have attended a formal event but are willing to participate through an easy-to-use platform. By offering a wide range of items—from luxury goods to unique experiences or even lower-cost items—charities can cater to all levels of donors, making everyone feel included in the fundraising effort.

Conclusion

In conclusion, online auctions are transforming charity fundraising by offering greater accessibility, enhanced engagement, and cost-effective solutions. By allowing charities to reach a global audience, reduce overhead costs, and engage a diverse group of supporters, online auctions are helping charities raise more funds for their causes while creating exciting and dynamic experiences for participants. As digital technology continues to evolve, online auctions will likely become an increasingly important tool in the world of philanthropy.

[fathimasalam]

The Science Behind Why Certain Brands Become Addictive

Have you ever noticed how certain brands seem to have an almost magnetic pull on us? Whether it's the rush of unboxing a new gadget, the familiarity of sipping a favorite coffee, or the thrill of browsing through an app, some brands tap into our minds in a way that keeps us coming back. As the Best Digital Marketer In Kochi , i would say , This isn’t by accident ; there’s actual science behind why some brands become so irresistibly addictive. Let’s dive into the psychology and neuroscience that brands use to win our loyalty, our habits, and sometimes even our hearts.

1. Creating the “Reward Loop”

Brands often use what’s known as the reward loop to keep us engaged. This loop works on the same principle as other rewarding behaviors, like playing a game or even eating something sweet. Here’s the breakdown:

Cue: The cue is what initially grabs your attention—a notification from your favorite app, the logo of your go-to coffee shop, or the sight of a new sneaker ad.

Routine: This is the action you take—scrolling through a feed, entering the store, or placing an order.

Reward: Finally, there’s a reward—a sense of accomplishment, pleasure, or belonging.

When we engage in this loop enough times, our brains release dopamine (the feel-good chemical), which strengthens our desire to repeat the behavior. This is why we find ourselves reaching for our phones automatically or craving our favorite brand products.

2. Building Emotional Connections

Brands that stick with us know how to tap into our emotions. They create connections that go beyond just products and offer experiences, stories, and a sense of belonging. Some brands use nostalgia, while others align with personal values or causes. These elements aren’t accidental; they’re meticulously designed to make us feel good about associating with the brand.

Example: Nike doesn’t just sell shoes—it sells empowerment. Through stories of athletes overcoming challenges and motivational slogans like “Just Do It,” Nike builds a brand that feels like a personal cheerleader. This connection makes customers feel motivated, loyal, and even proud to be part of the Nike community.

3. Mastering the Art of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

Brands also use the psychology of scarcity and urgency to make products feel special and exclusive. Limited-edition releases, countdown timers, and “only a few left in stock” prompts all play into our fear of missing out (FOMO). When we think something is rare, it becomes more desirable. Our brains often make the quick decision to buy, just in case it’s not available later.

4. Appealing to Our Sense of Identity

We all want to feel unique, and some brands skillfully weave this sense of self into their branding. By making customers feel like they belong to a special group, these brands give people a sense of identity. When we wear or use their products, we feel like we’re part of something bigger, something meaningful.

5. Consistency and Familiarity Build Trust

Humans are creatures of habit. When we find something we like, we tend to stick with it. Consistency breeds trust because it creates a sense of reliability. This is why certain brands keep their visual elements and messaging so consistent. They make sure that every experience you have with them, whether it’s online or in-store, feels familiar and trustworthy.

6. Designing Products with the “Hook” Model

Product design itself can also be a big factor in a brand’s addictiveness. Some brands use what’s known as the Hook Model to create products that fit seamlessly into our routines. This model, developed by author Nir Eyal, focuses on four stages:

Trigger: An internal or external prompt that reminds us to engage with the product.

Action: The behavior we perform to get the reward.

Variable Reward: This is where it gets interesting—the reward is sometimes unpredictable, which makes it more engaging (think of social media notifications or new content on a streaming platform).

Investment: Finally, we invest time, data, or money, which strengthens our connection to the product.

Example: Instagram uses this model expertly.

7. Crafting Positive Associations with Sensory Branding

Certain brands go the extra mile by stimulating our senses, creating a memorable experience that keeps us coming back for more. This could be a specific color, sound, scent, or even texture that we associate with the brand.

8. Creating Social Proof and Brand Loyalty

Finally, brands become addictive by cultivating strong communities of loyal followers. When we see others who are passionate about a brand, we’re more likely to develop an interest too. This social proof—seeing people we admire using certain brands—reinforces the idea that we should try them out. Social media plays a huge role here, as influencers, celebrities, and even friends promote products they love.

Final Thoughts: Brand Addiction Isn’t Accidental

The addictive nature of certain brands is a fascinating blend of psychology, neuroscience, and marketing savvy. From creating reward loops and tapping into our emotions to building communities and positive associations, brands use a multi-faceted approach to win our hearts and keep us coming back. As consumers, it’s empowering to understand these tactics—because the more we know, the more mindful we can be about the choices we make.

So next time you feel a pull toward your favorite brand, take a moment to consider the science behind it. After all, recognizing the magic doesn’t make it any less compelling—sometimes, it makes the experience all the more interesting.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] YouTube introduces new features across web, mobile, TVs, and YouTube Music2 min read Last Updated : Oct 16 2024 | 5:21 PM IST YouTube is rolling out an array of updates that include features such as fine-tunable playback speed, allowing adjustments in increments of 0.05, improved browsing in landscape mode (coming later this year for iOS users), larger thumbnails, and bigger text. These updates have started to roll out across web, mobile, TVs, and YouTube Music. Here are the details: Improved Miniplayer for multitasking YouTube now allows users to browse on the mobile phone while watching a video with the new improved miniplayer. Users can resize and move the miniplayer within the YouTube mobile app.  Collaborative YouTube playlists Users can create playlists with friends and family by inviting others to collaborate using a specific link. Soon, users will also be able to use a QR code to add to a playlist on TV. YouTube is introducing a new customisation tool for playlists, enabling users to design their own custom thumbnails using their photos or by creating new ones with generative AI. To create a custom thumbnail, users need to select an image and personalise it with text, filters, or stickers. To generate an AI thumbnail, users can tap on “Create with AI,” select a theme, and choose from the creations generated by AI. Users will also be able to vote on videos in playlists, allowing creators to let their audience rank their favourite content. Sleep timer YouTube is introducing a sleep timer, enabling users to set a timer that automatically pauses videos after a specified time. Badges YouTube is adding badges to the YouTube and YouTube Music apps on mobile devices. Initially, there will be a few badges that can be earned by achieving YouTube milestones, such as being a top listener of an artist. The badges will start rolling out in the upcoming weeks and can be found in the “You” tab. Upgraded YouTube on TV The visual updates being launched on web and mobile will also be available in the YouTube app on TV. The new user interface provides continued interaction with the content while watching Shorts. First Published: Oct 16 2024 | 5:21 PM IST [ad_2] Source link

[cahootings]

Sorry I'm just going to pop in and once again proselytize my favorite app, Paprika. It's a couple of bucks that you pay once (not a subscription!!!!) and lets you sort, tag, and rate recipes. The recipes themselves are interactive and you can highlight which step you're on or start a timer by tapping on the time in the instructions. You can add ingredients to a shopping list. You can automatically scale recipes.

But its most useful function is its integrated browser, where you can paste a recipe link and it'll download the recipe and fill out an entire recipe card for you. This includes recipes that otherwise might be blocked by a paywall. And it always links to the source so you'll know where it came from. I promise I promise I promise it is worth the $4 or whatever they charge for it, I've been using it for years and years now, and it's just so simple and functional.

is there anyone out there with a nyt cooking subscription

will they send me the chamomile tea cake with strawberry icing recipe